Top 9 Ways to Prevent the Silverfish from Coming Back

Top 9 Ways to Prevent the Silverfish from Coming Back

Have you just exterminated irritating Silverfish? Sure, you do not want to experience dealing with them again.

To help you ensure that those annoying insects will stay away from your house, below is a list of some helpful methods. But do the activities listed below, it helps to learn some important information about silverfish first.

Silverfish Characteristics, Diet, Reproduction and Lifecycle

Silverfish are grayish-blue creatures with a teardrop-shaped body. They have three long bristles at their back and can grow up to 19mm in length. Although these insects do not pose serious harm, they are usually annoying to have around the house. They’ll eat your books, anything made of starch and sugar, your clothes, even dead skin cells, etc.

If there is a silverfish in your place and you fail to spot them early, you may have to face silverfish infestation in no time. This insect reproduces quickly, making it difficult to eradicate an infestation. Some species of female silverfish can lay up to 20 nymphs (eggs) a day, usually in crevices and cracks. The eggs are only about one mm in length so they are barely visible to our eyes. They are white and soft when first laid but become yellowish and hardens after a few hours. The eggs develop faster in a humid environment.

A silverfish can live up to three years. Just imagine the number of eggs it can lay throughout their lifetime!

When it comes to attitude, silverfish are known to be shy, reserved, and quite secretive. Because of their size and being secretive, it is difficult to spot silverfish. But just because you cannot see a silverfish around does not mean that they do not exist. They may be lurking in the cracks of your home. If you see one, there may be more. Frequently, homeowners find them when it is too late or when the insect’s population already grow exponentially.

As mentioned above, silverfish are harmless creatures. That is when their number is small. But if they grow big in number, they are capable of causing severe damage to your property and belongings.

9 Ways to Prevent the Silverfish from Coming Back

Whether you have already experienced having these creatures around your house or not, it pays off to know what you should do to keep them away. As the adage goes, “Why spend all your time trying to solve a problem that you would like, just avoid having in the first place?”

1. Keep Your Place Clean

Prevention is always better than cure. Silverfish thrives in damp, dark, and moist areas such as under sinks, basements, bathrooms, attics, and closets. They also love the taste of wet wood and paper so you can also find them around cereal boxes, magazines, books, behind wallpaper, and along with rotting window sills. In short, they take shelter in a dirty, cluttered, and unkempt house. If you wish silverfishes to stay away from your property and your life, keep everything in your place clean. It is basic. A vibrant, spotless, and fresh place does not attract unwanted beasties.

2. Declutter and Vacuum Regularly

Silverfish usually hides in and often feasts upon old books, papers, and magazines. So if there is a pile of paper in your desk, there is a high chance that you’ll meet Silverfish again. Start getting rid of stuff you do not need or haven’t looked at in for a long time. The important papers, on the other hand, should be stored in airtight bins. Aside from decluttering, it is also essential to vacuum your place at least once a week. The vacuum can suck Silverfish eggs out of the baseboard and carpet. If needed, dry out the carpets through spraying baking soda in them. Leave the baking soda in the carpet for a few hours before vacuuming. The purpose of this is to dry out the eggs. Vacuuming can also help to remove food sources which may attract silverfish.

3. Light Up Dark Areas of Your House

Silverfish are nocturnal creatures so they tend to squeeze their bodies into dark and tiny spaces and gaps in your home. They hate light. Therefore, giving them what they dislike is one of the ways to keep them away. Let lots of light into areas and rooms that are predominantly dingy and dark. If you have an unused room, try installing new lighting or simply draw back curtains if there are some. The goal is to get rid of silverfish dungeons and any substantial shadows.

4. Use a Dehumidifier

An environment with a constantly humid atmosphere is an ideal place for silverfish. Keeping your place dry is important in preventing silverfish from coming back. This can be a big task especially for those living in areas with the winter season. Good thing, dehumidifiers are now available. Dehumidifiers can work wonder when it comes to casting out unwelcome silverfish.

5. Seal and Caulk

All those cleaning and vacuuming efforts will come to naught if you leave a small hole or an opportunity for silverfish to enter your house. To get rid of uninvited roommates forever, seal all entry points such as cracks and holes in your house specifically in your attic, basement, or any other dark, tight, and cold areas. A simple sealant or waterproof caulking will do the job. Also, ensure that there no pipework or plumbing is leaking moisture or is exposed to the outside.

6. Use Sealed Plastic Food Containers

Silverfish are attracted to sugary foods, flour, oats, cereal, carbohydrates, as well as starch-rich ingredients. Therefore, leaving those foodstuffs in their boxes is not an ideal thing to do. Buy sturdy, airtight containers and pour your food there. You do not want to experience pouring out a bowl of cereal to discover squirming insects swimming in it.

7. Remove or Replace Wallpaper

A wallpaper makes a highly sought after snack for silverfish. For them, it offers a delicious mix of papery and adhesive goodness. So check your wallpaper once in a while and if you notice holes in it or yellow staining, better take a closer look. The unwanted housemate may be already feasting on your beautiful wallpaper. In this case, it is better to remove and replace your wallpaper. To save you from the hassle of replacing the wallpaper in the future, consider painting the wall instead.

8. Sprinkle DE or Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth or D.E is one of the most popular silverfish repellents and it does work in keeping the pests away from your home. D.E is non-toxic and is made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, tiny and aquatic organisms. When it comes in contact with an insect, it kills them by drying them out. D.E absorbs the fats and oils from an insect’s exoskeleton cuticle. So you can sprinkle this around the areas in your house where you have seen silverfish.

9. Use Silverfish Repellents

There are several other silverfish repellents other than DE available in the market. For example, is boric acid. Unlike DE which is non-toxic, boric acid, however, is poisonous and harmful. Be careful when using them because they may pose a threat to your pets. If you don’t like the latter, you can choose a more natural option such as cedar oils. Silverfish along with other bugs despise the scent of the cedar wood; therefore using cedar scent-based repellent products can help win the war against annoying bugs. You can also choose to use gloves or mothballs. If you have lavender and cinnamon at home, you can also try them.

Call the Experts

There are many ways to exterminate silverfish – some are through using natural products and the other one is through calling the experts. A professional pest exterminator knows the nature of silverfish, how they breed, their diet, life cycle, and the effective methods to get rid of them. They also have the right tools and solutions.

If you hire a pest control service, expect to pay some bucks. Well, if you find a reliable pest control service provider in North Carolina, the money you will pay is surely worth the service. You do not have to spend time and money choosing and trying different silverfish repellents. The experts know exactly what to use and do to get rid of the nuisance. But make sure you choose pest experts who have already built a good reputation in the industry so you will get the result that you want.

Pest experts alone, however, cannot always keep silverfish at bay forever. Your cooperation and effort are needed. You have to commit to keeping your place clean and do precautionary measures not to attract the insects again. You have to do your part.

If you need the help from a reliable pest control company, feel free to contact Lake Norman Pest Control at 704-663-6440. The company is always ready to make your haven pest-free by using pet and human-friendly products and methods. To ensure that your property gets the right pest extermination solution, the team will make an inspection before performing any treatment. The team ensures that you get the best results.

Contact Us

Stan was awesome, he explained everything and showed me as he did the inspection. He also worked up a plan that is affordable. Thank you Stan!!

Stacy Martin

14:47 23 Oct 17

I wish I had called them sooner. I called another company first. After $200.00 part of our issues were resolved, but the ants were much worse (inside the house), and they did not treat the yard. Lake Norman Pest Control came and did a very thorough inspection. We learned lots (previous termites, etc) that the other company had never mentioned. Our technician was very friendly, and was super nice to the pets and our daughter. The company had great communication, was on time, and solid follow up. They are our go-to company from now on, and I highly recommend.

Peyton Cloaninger

20:10 21 Feb 17

We just started with Go-Forth today and we are very pleased with the service! Very polite and helpful! Would recommend!

Haley Collins

13:52 14 Jul 16

We found an area inside the home and suspected termites so we called LKN Peat control and they were at my home within 2 hours. Confirmed it was termites and I scheduled them to come out the next day do treatment. A few days later we found another "nest" if them and They came it again immediately to take care of the problem. We have the in-ground system and since we had it installed we've had no issue. They are prompt and thorough in their inspection and treatment process. I'm very happy with their friendliness, professionalism and services. I highly recommend.

Derrick Williams

16:18 02 Aug 17

Would like to say that Chris is great. He is a great Pest Control professional and represents your company well. He is courteous and very pleasant to talk with all at the same time while doing a marvelous job. Kudos.

Alyssa Ragan

17:47 22 Jun 16

Always a great experience with this company! Everyone on the team is professional and courteous. They go out of their way to make sure you are happy and your family is safe. Thanks for always being just a phone call away!

kristine hart

19:15 22 Mar 19

Vicky is an awesome and knowledgeable technician. She is always prompt, courteous and personable. And she always goes the extra mile. Thanks!

Helen Fallon

21:04 12 Jul 16

I have been with Lake Norman Pest Control for several years and have always been happy with their service. They are prompt, efficient and courteous.

Brooks Mooneyham

13:16 15 Nov 16

I love using Lake Norman Pest Control. They are quick to address any need or issue and I feel like I get what I pay for.

Jared Clark

12:42 18 Jul 16

Havent had service yet but my friends have with great results. Tim was great to work with while setting up my new account. He answered all my questions and told me about several different service options to consider before making a decision. Looking forward to meeting Nate this Friday for our first service. Price is not negligible, but worth it for continuous service from a technician that is permanently assigned to my home, and which i am confident will deliver good results.